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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Pinning & Singing: A story of the doily or doilie

Wikipedia says, "a doily (or doilie) is an ornamental mat, originally the name of a fabric made by Doiley, a 17th-century London draper. They are crocheted and sometimes knitted out of cotton or linen thread. Openwork allows the surface of the underlying object to show through. In addition to their decorative function doilies have the practical role of protecting fine-wood furniture from the scratches caused by crockery or decorative objects." I love them. I'm not sure but I think many people think they're very old fashioned but a lot of people are repurposing them into beautiful, functional and fashionable pieces.

I grew up with them dotted around the house, protecting the furniture, lessening the amount of dusting to do and giving me something to iron when I was learning how to. Before me, my mother, and those before her, were learning embroidery and crocheting by making doilies. I have many that I'm saving for a quilt I hope to do next year but I have some from my Mum, aunt and grandmother that I will keep for ever for the purpose they were intended. I also have paper doilies I use to put on platters and trays when serving food, just for a little decorative touch. I've made a few that will also remain in my collection.

I absolutely love doilies and collect them everytime I'm at the charity shop. It doesn't matter what design it is, or the colour, I just have to have it! And to think I used to hassle my mum about all the doilies around the house. btw - her doilies are now at mine! lol. Great pins...thanks for sharing these beautiful images.

I really like doilies. Yes, they are a bit old-fashioned, but I think they're extremely vintage cool :) :) I use them on my glass table...to protect the glass from my teacups, saucers etc :) They're beautiful and practical at the same time. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)